Newby needing some guidance on where to go

beachmama · Apr 29th, 2005, 03:28

Hello group--
I'm new to this forum, and I'm hoping to get some clarity on future travel plans to India. First of all, my husband & I have been to Nepal and loved it, but we got "templed out." I'm hoping to put together a 3 week trip which is light on temples/shrines/monuments and heavy on culture and wildlife.
Second of all, my husband is recently in remission from brain lymphoma, so treks are out of the question, as are long hikes.
I did a quick overview of Fodor's India and came up with the following places which seem to give us a well-rounded trip. Since I'm not sure of distances, this might be too much for a 3 week trip, so I'm asking for help from you folks in the know.
These are the places & areas which held the most interest:
Ladakh or Uttaranchal (Kamaon region), Darjeeling & Sikkim (by train)
Varanasi & the Taj Mahal
Jaipur
Rathambore & Sariska wildlife parks
Galwar Bagh
Jodhpur & Guda Vishnoi

If anyone can help pull this together in some sort of an itinerary, I'd be really pleased. IF anyone thinks these places are not great, I'm interested in your viewpoints.
Please be gentle: It's my first time to India!
Thanks, Beachmama

Uncle Jessie · Apr 29th, 2005, 03:54

The places in Rajastan (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Rathambore and Agra which is basically in Rajastan) should work well. They are all close by and they generally fit your description of what you'd like to do and avoid. This area will offer you some interesting culture, some wonderful sights (monuments, colour and wildlife). I realize you wanted to go light on monuments but there are some wonderful ones in this area. Both Ladakh/Uttaranchal (Kamaon region) and Darjeeling/Sikkim are rather out of the way. So if you must visit these places, I'd suggest you drop one of the two. I would suspect the harshness and altitude of the Ladakh/Uttaranchal area would make it more demanding then say Darjeeling (especially when you use the toy train).

Hope you and your husband have a great trip.

ddevadatta · Apr 29th, 2005, 04:19

You would also include south Indian region, either on this trip or the next.

beachmama · Apr 29th, 2005, 05:11

Did you have a specific area or place in mind? I'm open to suggestions, but I don't want to try to pack too much into one trip and lose the opportunity of really exploring the places I'm visiting. Thanks, Beachmama

-m2- · Apr 29th, 2005, 07:05

That is definitely a lot of travelling for 3 weeks, even if you flew everywhere.

It would be helpful to know what month you plan to be in India as the season is important in planning an itinerary.

beachmama · Apr 30th, 2005, 04:07

Actually, the travel date is somewhat open. Because my husband is still recuperating, the longer we wait, the stronger he'll be. I was thinking maybe February '06. OTOH, if we want to see a tiger, we'd probably be better off going in March, right??
Thanks, Beachmama

-m2- · Apr 30th, 2005, 20:11

February would be a good month for you to travel with generally pleasant, not too hot, weather over most of the country -- National Parks are generally open from november to may, and february probably as good as March for seeing big game.

I'd save Ladakh, Sikkim, and Darjeeling for another trip as they are too distant from your 'core' interests and would be better visited at a different time of year. Your other destinations should be do-able. February is still a bit early for some parts of Uttaranchal, but perhaps a visit to Corbett Nat Park would work, and you could continue on up to Almora or Kausani for a view of the mountains before heading back south.

I'm not too good with short itineraries; anyone else have some ideas?

Apr 29th, 2005, 03:28	#1
beachmama Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: california Posts: 7	Newby needing some guidance on where to go Hello group-- I'm new to this forum, and I'm hoping to get some clarity on future travel plans to India. First of all, my husband & I have been to Nepal and loved it, but we got "templed out." I'm hoping to put together a 3 week trip which is light on temples/shrines/monuments and heavy on culture and wildlife. Second of all, my husband is recently in remission from brain lymphoma, so treks are out of the question, as are long hikes. I did a quick overview of Fodor's India and came up with the following places which seem to give us a well-rounded trip. Since I'm not sure of distances, this might be too much for a 3 week trip, so I'm asking for help from you folks in the know. These are the places & areas which held the most interest: Ladakh or Uttaranchal (Kamaon region), Darjeeling & Sikkim (by train) Varanasi & the Taj Mahal Jaipur Rathambore & Sariska wildlife parks Galwar Bagh Jodhpur & Guda Vishnoi If anyone can help pull this together in some sort of an itinerary, I'd be really pleased. IF anyone thinks these places are not great, I'm interested in your viewpoints. Please be gentle: It's my first time to India! Thanks, Beachmama

Apr 29th, 2005, 04:19	#3
ddevadatta Finger Licking Good Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 907	South India You would also include south Indian region, either on this trip or the next. __________________ Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

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Apr 29th, 2005, 03:54	#2
Uncle Jessie Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13	The places in Rajastan (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Rathambore and Agra which is basically in Rajastan) should work well. They are all close by and they generally fit your description of what you'd like to do and avoid. This area will offer you some interesting culture, some wonderful sights (monuments, colour and wildlife). I realize you wanted to go light on monuments but there are some wonderful ones in this area. Both Ladakh/Uttaranchal (Kamaon region) and Darjeeling/Sikkim are rather out of the way. So if you must visit these places, I'd suggest you drop one of the two. I would suspect the harshness and altitude of the Ladakh/Uttaranchal area would make it more demanding then say Darjeeling (especially when you use the toy train). Hope you and your husband have a great trip.

Apr 29th, 2005, 05:11	#4
beachmama Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: california Posts: 7	Did you have a specific area or place in mind? I'm open to suggestions, but I don't want to try to pack too much into one trip and lose the opportunity of really exploring the places I'm visiting. Thanks, Beachmama

Apr 29th, 2005, 07:05	#5
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	That is definitely a lot of travelling for 3 weeks, even if you flew everywhere. It would be helpful to know what month you plan to be in India as the season is important in planning an itinerary.

Apr 30th, 2005, 04:07	#6
beachmama Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: california Posts: 7	Actually, the travel date is somewhat open. Because my husband is still recuperating, the longer we wait, the stronger he'll be. I was thinking maybe February '06. OTOH, if we want to see a tiger, we'd probably be better off going in March, right?? Thanks, Beachmama

Apr 30th, 2005, 20:11	#7
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	February would be a good month for you to travel with generally pleasant, not too hot, weather over most of the country -- National Parks are generally open from november to may, and february probably as good as March for seeing big game. I'd save Ladakh, Sikkim, and Darjeeling for another trip as they are too distant from your 'core' interests and would be better visited at a different time of year. Your other destinations should be do-able. February is still a bit early for some parts of Uttaranchal, but perhaps a visit to Corbett Nat Park would work, and you could continue on up to Almora or Kausani for a view of the mountains before heading back south. I'm not too good with short itineraries; anyone else have some ideas?

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